title: Amlodipine treatment prevents angiotensin II-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell apoptosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Amlodipine, a long-acting dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, is able to improve angiotensin II-mediated vascular endothelial dysfunction. However, the underlying mechanism remains not fully understood. In the present study we attempted to determine whether the protective effect of amlodipine against Ang II-induced endothelial impairment was mediated through blockage of endothelial cell apoptosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We pretreated human umbilical venous endothelial cells with increasing doses of amlodipine (10(-8)-10(-6) M) followed by the addition of Ang II. Cell apoptosis was assessed by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining and by annexin-V/propidium iodide double-labeled cytometry. The involvement of the apoptosis regulators, Bcl-2, Bax, and lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1, was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pretreatment with amlodipine resulted in a dose-dependent suppression of Ang II-induced HUVEC apoptosis. Moreover, the Bcl-2/Bax ratio was found to be increased in cells pretreated with amlodipine, indicating an enhanced anti-apoptosis potential. Additionally, the induction of LOX-1 by Ang II was remarkably counteracted by the pre-exposure to amlodipine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data demonstrate that amlodipine ameliorates Ang II-induced endothelial apoptosis, which is likely associated with the elevation of Bcl-2/Bax ratio and reduction of the LOX-1 expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, No. 382 Wuyi Road, Taiyuan, China.
authors.forename: Yun-fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.forename: Hui-yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhi-ming
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Na-na
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chuan-shi
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D017311:Amlodipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D051127:Scavenger Receptors, Class E / Q000378:metabolism; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; C495137:OLR1 protein, human; D051127:Scavenger Receptors, Class E; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D000804:Angiotensin II; D017311:Amlodipine